Ranchi: In an instance of misplaced enthusiasm, the police in Ranchi not only booked a four-year-old boy, alleging that he had caused breach of peace in a land dispute, but retained his name in the charge sheet placed before the chief judicial magistrate (CJM) three years later.
Suraj Toppo, now seven years old, was produced before the CJM's court in Ranchi on Friday. He attended the proceedings of the court along with four relatives named in the same case.
Three years ago, Bhima Oraon had come to the Jagganathpur police station, accusing Suraj and his family of threatening him over a land dispute.
Under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) a child below the age of seven cannot be convicted for any crime.
After Suraj's lawyer attracted the attention of court towards the discrepancy, the chief judicial magistrate reserved his judgement in the case.
"How can a four-year-old boy create unrest and pose a threat to society? The police did wrong while filing the charge sheet. The police seems to have not done its homework while filing the charge sheet," said S.N. Tewary, lawyer for Suraj.
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